Day of the dead in spanish pronunciation

Día de Muertos – The Day of the Dead – is a Mexican holiday celebrated 31st of October to remember and celebrate the life of the loved ones that have passed away. Because the Day of the Dead is a very important for the Spanish-speaking world, we made a list of Spanish words you might want to learn before the great celebration.

1. Día de Muertos

“Día de Muertos” is the Spanish name for the Day of the Dead. The holiday is sometimes called “Día de los Muertos” too, especially in Anglophone countries.

1. La calavera

A “calavera” is a representation of a human skull. Calaveras on Día de los Muertos are often very decorative and made from sugar or clay. Sugar skulls are common gifts for children for the Day of the Dead.

1. La ofrenda

An “ofrenda” is a collection of objects placed on a ritual altar during the Day of the Dead celebrations. It is usually given to the spirits of loved ones.

1. Pan de muerto

“Pan de muerto”, which literally means bread of the dead, is a traditional bread baked in Mexico during the Day of the Dead celebrations. It is a sweetened, soft bun-like bread, often decorated with pieces shaped like finger bones.

1. La calaca

“La calaca” is a figure of a skeleton, a very popular Day of the Dead decoration.

1. El espíritu

The spirits of the departed are said to be with us on the Day of the Dead.

1. La ánima

“Ánima” is another word for spirit or soul.

1. El copal

Copal is a resin from the copal tree. Burning it like incense on the spirit altar is popular on the Day of the Dead.

1. Flor de muerto

The brilliant orange Mexican marigolds bloom just in time for the Day of the Dead, so the flower has acquired the popular name “flower of the dead”.

1. ¿Me da mi calaverita?

In Mexico, trick-or-treating is called ”calaverita”. A calaverita is a small skull made of sugar or chocolate. Instead of ”trick or treat”, children ask “¿Me da mi calaverita?” It means ”Can you give me my sugar skull?”

Whether you get dressed up and bake some pan de muertos, or just stay at home and eat some sugar skulls to celebrate, we at WordDive hope you have a good Día de Muertos.

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Dear Mexican: I was surprised, on a trip to Mexico earlier this month, that I only ever found the holiday referred to as "Día de Muertos," whereas in the States, I've only ever heard it referred to as "Día de los Muertos." I'm really curious as to WHY there's a difference north/south of the border. Do Chicanos include the "los" so that it better matches up with the English translation? Do Mexicans use the phrase so often that the "los" has just fallen by the wayside? In Spanish, do you actually NEED the "los?" La Catrina

Dear Gabacha: Both "Día de los Muertos" and "Día de Muertos" have been used in Mexico since the 16th century, although I'm noticing Chicano yaktivists and their fresa cousins are preferring the latter, most likely because they feel too many gabachos now know about the holiday and prefer to use something they won't understand. Both are technically right: "Día de Muertos" is the literal translation of All Souls' Day (notice how it's not called "All of the Souls' Day"). On the other hand, the day before Día de los Muertos, All Saints' Day, is almost universally known in Mexico as Día de Todos los Santos instead of Día de Todos Santos. Confused yet? Don't be: The Mexican propensity for elision is as notorious as our love for agave-based spirits.

The other day, I went to Taco Bell. At the window, I ordered something with jalapeños. When I spoke the sacred "jalapeño" word with my gawky gringo accent, the illegal Mexican at the cash register corrected my pronunciation by repeating the word slowly and condescendingly — "hah-lah-pen-yo." True, I only suspect he's Mexican, and I suspect he's illegal as well. But I find his almost complete inability to speak English offers some kind of clue.

I wonder: Is this dude so ignorant he doesn't understand that people pronounce words differently depending on where they're from? Or was he intentionally getting rude 'cause he just hates gabachos? Or maybe, he was kindly instructing me as to how words will be expected to be pronounced once the Reconquista fulfills its promise. Home Fry

Dear Gabacho: Let's just set aside your preposterous assumption that the guy taking your order is undocumented — Taco Bell uses E-Verify. Guy took your order, right? Which means he knows English. If anything, the Mexican was being charitable — you're obviously the last gabacho left who doesn't know how to pronounce jalapeño.

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